The Three Lions
Stuckton
Nr Fordingbridge
Tel: 01425 652489
Vegetarian: Yes
Parking: Adjacent
Smoking: In Bar area
Wheelchairs: Easy
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The Three Lions Stuckton Nr Fordingbridge Tel: 01425 652489 |
Vegetarian: Yes Parking: Adjacent Smoking: In Bar area Wheelchairs: Easy |
Visited February 2006
This is a restaurant with an
excellent local reputation and, since it is rather off the beaten track, well
worth going out of your way to find. It is set in beautiful countryside just
outside Fordingbridge with plenty of parking and would be a great venue for
lunch or dinner on a lovely summer’s day. As it was, your intrepid researchers
looked out on the heaviest snowfall of the winter so far and huddled closer to
the open fire! We were very brave but we all agreed that we could think of far
worse places to be snowed in and, since they have several letting bedrooms, it
could have been days before we raised the alarm!
The Three Lions has been under the current management for 11 years and the
owner, Michael Womersley, has an impressive pedigree including working for
Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons. There is a small bar area where
the menu is displayed on a blackboard, implying that it changes frequently, and
the décor is generally “cottage style” which tones perfectly with the
country setting. There is also a delightful conservatory overlooking the
garden which is used during the summer. It is non-smoking throughout apart from
the bar area.
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We enjoyed little dishes of olives and almonds with our pre-lunch drinks and decided to choose from the set lunch menu (priced at £16.75) which covered a soup or salad starter, a choice of four main courses and any one of their selection of puddings. The soup was hearty leek and chives, just right for a cold day, and the salad was a delicious combination of Parma ham and salad leaves dressed with balsamic vinegar and parmesan (on left). |
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For mains, we chose the Fish Panache (left), which turned out to be prawns, baked cod with herb crust and pan fried sea bass, each beautifully complimented by different sauces, and the Chicken (above right) with bread sauce, a very simple description which belied the moist and delicious breast of chicken baked with parsley. Each dish was served with a selection of at least five different vegetables (right), including ratatouille, a rarity in most restaurants. |
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Regular readers will know that we
have trouble resisting the puddings (strictly for research purposes of course)
so we plumped for the baked banana with crème brulee and basil; the Three Lions
tart made with almonds and Pernod and served with homemade liquorice ice cream;
and the hot chocolate pudding with homemade vanilla ice cream. All were very
good indeed and we only just managed to find room for coffees and a homemade
sweetmeat. Luckily, by then the weather had changed to spring sunshine so we had
to abandon hopes of being snowed in and just enjoy the lovely New Forest scenery
on our return journey!
This is clearly a very successful restaurant with a well established clientele
who appreciate good food, prepared with locally sourced ingredients wherever
possible, and are happy to pay the high end prices. It seems to have little
direct competition locally and that may explain the occasionally casual service.
Cost £ £ £ £
£ £
Yummy Factor 8/10
Guest Report
by CS of Romsey
| The higher the "Yummy" factor, the better the food & service. The higher the number of £ signs the more expensive. ( Roughly one £ sign = £5 per head ) |
| Site Entrance |
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